Robert Allen (Virginia)
Encyclopedia
Robert Allen was an American
lawyer and politician from Woodstock, Virginia
. He represented Virginia
in the United States House of Representatives
from 1827 to 1833.
Allen was born in the village of Woodstock and started college at Dickinson College
in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
. After two years he transferred to Washington College (now Washington and Lee
) in Lexington, Virginia
where he graduated in 1815. He returned to the family farm and read law, was admitted to the bar and established a law practice in Woodstock.
Allen was elected to the Virginia state Senate in 1820, and served there from 1821 until 1826. In 1826 he was elected to the U.S. Congress as a Democratic-Republican
. He would serve there for six years, winning two more elections.
Allen moved to Bedford County, Virginia
and resumed farming. He died in 1859 at Mount Pleasant in Essex County, Virginia
and is buried in the Longwood Cemetery in Bedford
. His brother John James Allen also served in the Congress.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer and politician from Woodstock, Virginia
Woodstock, Virginia
Woodstock is a town in Shenandoah County, Virginia, United States. It has a population of 5,097 according to the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Shenandoah County....
. He represented Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1827 to 1833.
Allen was born in the village of Woodstock and started college at Dickinson College
Dickinson College
Dickinson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Originally established as a Grammar School in 1773, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded in the newly...
in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle is a borough in and the county seat of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The name is traditionally pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable. Carlisle is located within the Cumberland Valley, a highly productive agricultural region. As of the 2010 census, the borough...
. After two years he transferred to Washington College (now Washington and Lee
Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University is a private liberal arts college in Lexington, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location. In 1776 it was renamed Liberty Hall in a burst of...
) in Lexington, Virginia
Lexington, Virginia
Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 7,042 in 2010. Lexington is about 55 minutes east of the West Virginia border and is about 50 miles north of Roanoke, Virginia. It was first settled in 1777.It is home to...
where he graduated in 1815. He returned to the family farm and read law, was admitted to the bar and established a law practice in Woodstock.
Allen was elected to the Virginia state Senate in 1820, and served there from 1821 until 1826. In 1826 he was elected to the U.S. Congress as a Democratic-Republican
Democratic-Republican Party (United States)
The Democratic-Republican Party or Republican Party was an American political party founded in the early 1790s by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Political scientists use the former name, while historians prefer the latter one; contemporaries generally called the party the "Republicans", along...
. He would serve there for six years, winning two more elections.
Allen moved to Bedford County, Virginia
Bedford County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 60,371 people, 23,838 households, and 18,164 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile . There were 26,841 housing units at an average density of 36 per square mile...
and resumed farming. He died in 1859 at Mount Pleasant in Essex County, Virginia
Essex County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,989 people, 3,995 households, and 2,740 families residing in the county. The population density was 39 people per square mile . There were 4,926 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile...
and is buried in the Longwood Cemetery in Bedford
Bedford, Virginia
Bedford is an independent city located within the confines of Bedford County in the U.S. state of Virginia. It serves as the county seat of Bedford County. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 6,222. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Bedford with surrounding Bedford...
. His brother John James Allen also served in the Congress.